Everything to Know AboutIt Starts with Us, the Sequel toIt Ends with Us

Mar. 15, 2025

Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Starts with Us’; Blake Lively as Lily Bloom in ‘It Ends with Us’.Photo:Atria Books;Sony

Atria Books;Sony

Warning: Spoilers ahead!

The sequel, which published in October of 2022, follows high school sweethearts Lily Bloom and Atlas Corrigan after they’ve once again reconnected in the last pages ofIt Ends with Us.

In an introduction to the second book, author Hoover writes that at first, she never considered another chapter to the characters' story.

Here’s what to know about the follow-up, which many fans are hoping becomes a second movie, too.

Blake Lively as Lily and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas in ‘It Ends with Us’.Jojo Whilden/Sony

Jojo Whilden/Sony

IsIt Starts with Usas heavy asIt Ends with Us?

It Ends with Uswraps up with a sweet Lily and Atlas run-in on the streets of Boston that could be seen as either closure or the opening to a new story. The second chapter of the second book sees Lily reeling from the moment and processing what might happen next in her somewhat complicated love life.

Hoover — whodrew on her mother’s own experienceswith domestic abuse forIt Ends with Us —took a sunnier approach to her sequel.

Though Lily’s abusive ex Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni in the film) is still part of the story as they navigate the ups and downs of co-parenting daughter Emerson, the book mostly follows Lily and Atlas' rekindled romance, which moves forward with just a few bumps in the road.

Jenny Slate as Allysa and Blake Lively as Lily in ‘It Ends with Us’.Jojo Whilden

Jojo Whilden

Does it include new characters?

Once Atlas connects with him, the book also explores his love for Josh, and Atlas' efforts to become his legal guardian.

Are there returning characters?

Fear not: even though Lily has divorced Ryle, his sister Allysa and her husband Marshall return as ever-supportive friends in the sequel, helping Lily work through her complicated new relationship with Ryle and celebrating her relationship with Atlas and milestones with Emmy.

Justin Baldoni as Ryle and Blake Lively as Lily in ‘It Ends with Us’.Nicole Rivelli

Nicole Rivelli

Is it as sexy asIt Ends with Us?

Lily’s journal entries toEllen DeGeneres(IYKYK) make a return in the second book, giving new depth to the relationship between Lily and Atlas. And for those who swooned over the initial chemistry between Ryle and Lily in the first book, they’ll be glad to know Atlas and Lily have just as much of a connection inIt Starts with Us,too.

Has Ryle changed his ways?

(Trigger warning: domestic abuse) Though Lily and Ryle are divorced because of his domestic abuse, he does put his hands on her once again in the middle of the book, and his temper gets the better of him a number of times. He goes after Atlas, too, though a late scene in the book showcases the way the two men process their emotions in different ways.

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How does the book end?

At the end ofIt Starts with Us,Lily and Atlas get that fresh start. The book shows them moving into his home together and ultimately getting ready on their wedding day. Though readers never get to see the proposal, there is a peek at Atlas' heartfelt wedding vows as he heads to the couple’s ceremony.

Blake Lively as Lily in ‘It Ends with Us’.Nicole Rivelli/SONY PICTURES

Nicole Rivelli/SONY PICTURES

Will there be a third book in the series?

That remains to be seen. In a recent chat with PEOPLE, Hooveradmitted that, “in the last maybe year and a half, closing in on two years, I haven’t written at all and I feel a lot of guilt for that. But I’ve also been extremely busy, and my mind has been in other places.” Maybe once the movie, which Hoover co-executive produced, is in the rearview mirror,

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WillIt Starts with Usbecome a movie?

The answer to that question is also up in the air, and will likely depend in part on how wellIt Ends with Usperforms at the box office. However,Hoover did tell PEOPLEthat working on this film was “a masterclass in filmmaking. I enjoy it so much that I want to be more involved on future films now that I’ve had a little taste of it.”

It Ends with Usis now in theaters.Both books are available now, wherever books are sold.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com